Tampa Bay Lightning

According to ESPN.com, [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/transactions]the Lightning have signed left wing Eric Healey to a two-way contract.[/url] The 31 year old forward spent much of last season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL scoring 29 goals and 71 points in 66 games. He also played 2 games with Boston last year at the NHL level, the only two NHL games of a career that has been split between the AHL, IHL, ECHL and the German DEL. The Hull, Massachussetts native is no stranger to Springfield as he played both the '99-'00 and '00-'01 seasons with the Falcons. Of local interest, he also spent part of the '98-'99 season with the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL. Prior to becoming a pro, Healey graduated from RPI. Healey's signing may cap the offseason shaping of the Falcons roster, and may lock out any potential re-signing of Shane Willis, Jason Jaspers or Zdenek Blatny.

According to TSN.ca, former Springfield and Brandon (WHL) captain Ryan Craig has re-signed with the Lightning. Craig scored 15 goals in roughly half a season last year as a rookie in Tampa Bay. Craig is one of the current members of the Lightning expected to help fill the void left when Fredrik Modin was traded to Columbus.

The Springfield Falcons are reporting the Lightning have re-signed left winger Mitch Fritz to a two-way contract. Tampa GM Jay Feaster hints at the possibility of Fritz playing on a line in Tampa next season, which fits Feaster's wish for a more physical fourth line:
"We are very pleased to have Mitch under contract for another season", Feaster stated in a release. "As we have told him in the past, if he is able to continue to improve his skating and demonstrate the ability to contribute consistently on an every shift basis, he will become an NHL regular,â€ Feaster said. â€œHe is, pound for pound, one of the strongest players in professional hockey and he creates room for his teammates every time he steps on the ice. We need that type of physical presence in Tampa and we look forward to seeing Mitch in camp and determining whether he has continued to elevate his overall game to the NHL level."

The Tampa Bay Lightning [url=http://www.tampabaylightning.com/tbl/prdetail.cfm?pressreleaseID=1412&category=2]have signed[/url] center [url=blair-jones]Blair Jones[/url] to an entry level contract. Jones, 19, finished 6th in the WHL in regular season scoring and 2nd in the league in playoff scoring and was named a Second Team All WHL Eastern Conference All Star for his junior club Moose Jaw of the WHL.